Category Archives: Training

The Royal College of Midwives and Birthrights today launched a new i-learn module on human rights, which is available to all RCM members.

Birthrights CEO, Rebecca Schiller commented: “With the launch of A-EQUIP planning complex care will not longer be down to a specialist. Therefore all midwives and maternity workers need to understand how human rights law can empower them to advocate for women, and to plan individualised care. This i-learn module created by the RCM in collaboration with Birthrights is an important contribution to further training midwives for this role.”

On 8th March, Birthrights, alongside Queen Mary’s School of Law and 39 Essex Chambers, will be putting on a seminar taking a critical look at the recent trend of forced caesarean decisions in the Court of Protection.

Last August, Birthrights, the President of the RCM, and others wrote to the National Maternity Review team stating our belief that “safe maternity care is contingent on respectful care” and asking Baroness Cumberlege to put human rights at the centre of the Review process.

On the 17th October, the Department of Health launched a Maternity Safety Action Plan. We believe as strongly as ever, that the roll out of a human rights framework in maternity care needs to be the touchstone of that Plan. The good news is that Birthrights training is eligible for funding from the £8m Maternity Safety Training Fund that will make £40-£80k available to each Trust to enable them to implement the Maternity Safety Action Plan. So if you are interested in Birthrights training, this is a great opportunity. You can find full details of our one-day “Creating a Safe Maternity Culture” course here. Do get in touch with us as soon as possible at info@birthrights.org.uk to check availability.

More information on the Fund itself can be found here. The deadline for applications is the 18th November.